Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘146833’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘146833’ particularly characterized by flowers which are pink/purple with some yellow in the labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsishybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘146833’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘146833’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘146833’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘146833’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1998 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Leen Boon’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘Love Goofy’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘146833’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in January, 2006 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘146833’, which in combination distinguishthis Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are pink/purple with some yellow in the        labellum;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescence is long and sturdy    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage

Presently, there is no other commercial cultivar to which ‘146833’ canbe meaningfully compared.

The claimed variety ‘146833’ differs from its male parent (‘Love Goofy’)and female parent (‘Leen Boon’) in that ‘146833’ has more intense pinkflowers than the pink flowers of the parent varieties, and ‘146833’ haslarger flowers than either parent variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘146833’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘146833’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘146833’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of‘146833’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘146833’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘146833’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘146833’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘146833’ is27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of‘146833’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘146833’ are a minimum of5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with levelof 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of‘146833’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘146833’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Leen Boon’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Love Goofy’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 5 mm-7            mm wide and green in color; freely branching. It takes 12            weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to initiate            roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 66 cm. Spread: about 60 cm            to 65 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Standard; dark-green leaves and a relatively            normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, the tip is blunt and            asymmetric.        -   Texture.—Smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—3 to 4 pairs of leaves.        -   Mature leaf length.—About 21 cm and 23 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—About 8 cm to 9 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: RHS N137A; lower side: RHS            137B.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein (both sides):            dark green (RHS N137A).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—About 10 to 23.        -   Length.—About 65 cm to 78 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—Dark brown with green (some RHS N200A and RHS 189A            and some RHS 145B, all colors individually present.).        -   Internode.—Length: about 40 to 50 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 to 22 mm. Diameter            (at midpoint): about 13 to 19 mm. Shape: egg-shaped. Color:            RHS 77A.        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2            racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers            per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected            approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a            leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after tepal separation. Orientation at opening: slanted            upward and outward. Shape: see FIG. 2. Size: Height: about            70 mm. Diameter: about 95 mm. Depth of tube: about 18 mm.        -   Tepals.—Quantity and arrangement: six tepals that are            trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are            more pronounced than sepals.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl of petals comprises 3            petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2 lateral petals:            Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped. Apex: oval.            Margin: weakly undulate. Length: about 55 mm. Width: about            40 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny. Under            surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper            side: purple RHS N78 B. lower side: purple RHS N78 C.            Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent            callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and            base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward            about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is            terminated by 2 short filiform appendages at the apex.            Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the            midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin:            entire and weakly undulate. Length: about 30 mm. Width (not            flattened): about 26 mm. Texture: Upper and lower surface:            smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Main color is purple/violet RHS N81A. The base of the            lateral lobes is white (RHS NN155C) with purple/red stripes            and spots (RHS 64A). Lower surface: main color is            purple/violet RHS N81A. At the base of the lateral lobes is            some white (RHS NN155B). The pestle is yellow/orange (RHS            23A) with red/purple spots and stripes (RHS 64A). Chirri is            purple/violet (RHS N81A) and the column is purple (RHS N78D)            and white (RHS NN155B). Chirri: normal. Pestle            (callosities): Length: about 5 mm. Width: about 6 mm.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl of sepals comprises 3            sepals. Overall shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Length:            about 42 mm. Width: about 30 mm to 35 mm. Texture: Upper and            lower surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened):            upper surface: purple RHS N78B. Lower surface: purple RHS            N78C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 14 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:            purple (RHS N78D) and white (RHS NN155B).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Size: 1 mm. Color: yellow/orange            RHS 23A.        -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155C) with some purple (RHS N78D).        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 45 mm to 50 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm.            Color: green (RHS 138C) and close to the flower some purple            (RHS 77D).-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘146833’, as illustrated and described herein.